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Branstad: Wind energy key to job creation

Rod Boshart

Sep 13, 2011

DES MOINES — Gov. Terry Branstad said today that further growth
in Iowa’s wind energy industry will figure heavily into meeting his
job-creation goals over the next five years.

Branstad told attendees at the American Wind Energy Association’s
wind power supply chain workshop that up to 5,000 Iowa jobs already
are supported by manufacturing and wind power development
businesses that operate in 56 of the state’s 99 counties.

“We cannot overlook the impact of the wind industry on economic
development and jobs in Iowa,” said Branstad, who noted that he
planned to discuss wind energy opportunities with Chinese officials
during his upcoming 10-day trade mission to South Korea, China and
Japan that begins Sunday.

Branstad told the gathering he supports congressional approval of a
long-term extension of the wind energy production tax credit to
give businesses looking to invest some stability and
predictability. He also wants to lead regional transmission
discussions aimed at finding ways to “pay for the very expensive
cost” of transmission lines and facilities needed to move
wind-generated electricity into the grid that serves the nation’s
energy needs.

To that end, Branstad announced he will co-host the Midwestern
Governors Association, or MGA, meeting on transmission
collaboration Thursday and Friday in Des Moines. The meeting will
highlight the successes the Midwest has had in transmission
planning and development in the region, he said.

“I am pleased the MGA is in Des Moines to showcase Iowa’s success
in advancing energy transmission,” said Branstad, who serves as the
association’s vice chairman. “Throughout the Midwest, governors are
continuing to make significant progress in transmission
development, which is important for future economic growth and
producing low-cost and renewable wind energy.”

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He said the meeting attendees will include state staff, electric
utility and transmission companies, state utility commissioners and
other industry stakeholders. In addition to learning about best
practices of building transmission lines, participants will be
discussing state regulatory planning issues, long-term transmission
goals, regional planning and transmission’s role in economic
development.

“Wind generation should be part of our national energy policy,”
Branstad said.

The governor said the wind industry has helped revitalize rural
areas and provided landowners with a significant new revenue source
from lease payments of up to $120,000 over a 20-year period for
each turbine installed on Iowa farms.

Branstad noted that recent polls showed that more than 80 percent
of Iowans held a favorable view of wind energy, adding, “I’ve never
gotten 80 percent of the vote, so I appreciate how significant
those numbers are.”